State Farm announces closure of large Bakersfield facility

The State Farm operations center in Bakersfield, Calif., is seen in a KBAK/KBFX file photo.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) —

State Farm announced Thursday that it will close its Bakersfield operations center in 2021.

The Bloomington, Illinois-based insurance company said it will move out of 11 facilities over a period of several years beginning in 2018.

The closures will affect around 4,200 employees, thought State Farm said it'll offer jobs opportunities at the company's other locations.

Offices in Petaluma and Irvine, California, will also close. Closures were also announced in New Jersey, Michigan, Oklahoma, Indiana, Florida, Illinois and Maryland.

“We understand the decision to exit these facilities directly affects our employees and their communities. While the exits will begin in 2018 and continue over several years, we are announcing this decision now in order to give employees time to make personal and professional decisions. The company will continue to have a strong local presence in these communities through our agents and local claims employees,” Mary Schmidt, executive vice president and chief administrative officer, said in a news release.